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Small bowel bacterial overgrowth - Treatment

Alternative Names

Overgrowth - intestinal bacteria; Bacterial overgrowth - intestine

Treatment:

The goal is to treat the cause of the excess intestinal bacteria growth. For certain conditions, antibiotics or drugs that speed intestinal movement (motility-speeding drugs) may be considered.

Treatment also involves getting enough fluids and nutrition.

Someone who is dehydrated may need intravenous (IV) fluids in a hospital. If the person is already malnourished, a type of nutrition given through a vein (total parenteral nutrition (TPN)) may be necessary.

Complications:

Severe cases lead to malnutrition. Other possible complications include:

Dehydration
Excess bleeding due to vitamin deficiency
Liver disease
Osteoporosis

Reviewed last on: 10/13/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Prather C. Inflammatory and anatomic diseases of the intestine, peritoneum, mesentery, and omentum. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 145.

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